Thermostat



Aug. 29, 1933. R BURKLE 1,924,540

THERMOSTAT Filed March 14, 1933 INVENTOR ROBERT BURKLE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1933 EETATES PATENT THERMOSTAT Application March 14, 1933.

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im movements in thermostats particularly intended use on automatic dish washing and drying machines.

This application is a continuation in part of my application entitled Automatic dish. washing machines, filed in United States Patent Office on June 4, 1932, Serial No. 615,287.

The invention has for an object the construction. of a thermostat hich is characterized by a tubular body with a reduced front end and an opened rear end for mounting upon a water or other pipe or object in a manner so that'the fluid may enter, temperature conductive tubular with a closed rear end mounted at the front through said reduced end of the tubular body and extending towards the rear of the tubular body so as to be surrounded by the fluid, and a thermostatic arrangement mounted within the conductive tubular member. This construction provides for the efilcient transfer of temperature from the fluid to the thermostat.

Still furth this invention contemplates the novel arrangement of a bimetallic strip and a plain p disposed parallel to each other and extending through the conductive tubular memher and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of the said conductive tubular member in a manner so that temperature may effect the bimetallic strip and cause it to move towards or away from the plain strip and so cause :functio s of the thermostat.

lOlQ as another object of this invenis proposed to mount insulated terminals the free ends of said strips with contacts to make connection in some electric circuit to control the circuit according to the temperature t upon the himetal st i to fing r upon the free end of the plain strip e a in conjunction with the g and holding away the finger at various positions so to flex the plain strip and more the terminals to predetermined separated ace 1 it allowing he plain strip and bimetal stnp to continue its movement after contact has been made.

' irthermore the invention contemplates the '1 of c attached upon the front of ihular body manner so as to house the mention d in the previous paragraph and .echanism moving and hol ng this finexcept a control knob arranged outside casing and mounted upon a stern extending the casingto lift the plainstrip away from Serial No. 660,629

the bimetal strip and adjust the operation of the mechanism.

Still further this invention contemplates a novel arrangement whereby an adjustment is provided for changing the range of operation on the mechanism in moving the finger so as to increase the amplitude of operation of the thermostatic device.

Still further this invention contemplates the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will he had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a thermostat constructed according to this invention is an end elevaticnal view of Fig. l. is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of .1g 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The thermostatic device according to this invention c mprises a tubular body 16 with a reduced from end 11 and an opened rear end 12 for mounting upon a w er pipe or the like in a manner so that the ilulnay enter. More particularly, the tubular body is is shown threadedly engaged into a portion of a pipe fitting 13 arranged in the pipe line 14 through which the fluid passes. A conductive tubular member 15 with a cl sed rear end 16 is mounted at the front through the reduced end 11 and extends towards the rear end of the tubular member so as to be surrounded by the fiuid. Upon the rear end of the temperature conductive tubular member, a himetal strip 17 and a plain metal strip 18 are arranged parallel to each other and extended through said conductive tubular member 15 and supported at the rear ends upon the closed end, that is, upon the plug 16 of the conductive tubular member.

An insulated terminal 19 is mounted upon the roe end of the biinetal strip 17 and another inulated terminal 20 is mounted upon the free end of the plain strip 18. These terminals are for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature changing efiects upon the bimetal strip. A finger 21 is attached upon the free end of the plain strip 13. This finger engages against the periphery of a cam 22 arranged so as to flex the plain strip to hold the terminals separated to predetermined amounts.

A casing 23 is attached upon the rear end of the tubular body 10 which is provided with an enlargement or fiange 24 to accommodate the casing. The casing 23 houses the cam 22, the finger 21 and all parts to the rear of these parts. The front 25 of the casing 23 is formed from transparent material and immediately behind this material there is located an opaque disc 26 which is printed or inscribed with a scale 2"] to indicate the temperature at which the thermostatic device will act. A pointer 28 is arranged to travel over the scale 27 and is attached upon a spindle 29 rotatively engaged through the front 25 of the casing and the disc 26. An operating knob 30 is attached upon the outer end of the spindle 29. The inner end of the spindle 29 is attached at the point 31 upon the cam 22 so as to be capable of rotating the cam to cause the finger 21 to move according to the outline or periphery of the cam.

As insulated terminal 19 is mounted upon the free end of the bimetal strip 17 and another insulated terminal 20 is mounted upon the free end of the plain strip 18. These terminals are for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature changing clients upon the bimetal strip. A finger 21 is attached upon the free end of the plain strip 18. This finger engages against the periphery of a cam 22 arranged so as to flex the plain strip terminal away and separated to predetermined amounts.

A casing 23 is attached upon the rear end of the tubular body 10 which is provided with an enlargement or flange 24 to accommodate the casin The casing 23 houses the cam 22, the finger 21 and all parts to the rear of these parts. The front 25 of the casing 23 is formed from transparent material and immediately behind this material there is located an opaque disc 26 which is printed or inscribed with a scale 27 to indicate the temperature at which the thermostatic device will act. A pointer 28 is arranged to travel over the scale 27 and is attached upon a spindle 29 rotatively engaged through the front 25 of the casing and the disc 26. An operating knob 30 is attached upon the outer end of the spindle 29. The inner end of the spindle 29 is attached at the point 31 upon the cam 22 so as to be capable of rotating the cam to cause the finger 21 to move according to the outline or periphery of the cam. This periphery is so de signed as to gradually move the finger further away relative to the bimetal strip 1'7 when turned in one direction and to allow the resiliency of the plain strip 18 to move the finger closer to the bimetal strip 17 when the cam is moved in the other direction.

A cable casing 32 is attached upon the bottom of the casing 23 and is adapted to house the leads 33 which connect with stationary insulated terminals 34 mounted upon the flange 24 from which. coiled leads 35 connect with the terminals 19 and 20. Stops 36 project from th ends of the cam so as to limit rotation of the cam to positions which the finger 21 always maintains contact with the periphery thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification of the invention has been disclosed in which provision has been made for increasing the operative range of the thermostatic device. This arrangement relates particularly to the cam action for moving the finger 21. The earn comprises a core portion 37 and a peripheral portion 38 which is provided with a rod 39 engaged radially into the core portion 3'7 so that the peripheral. portion may move from a position in intimate contact with the outer surface i the core portion 37 to other positions extended outwards. A resilient means is provided -for normally urging the peripheral portion 38 inwards and comprises a spring 40 arranged coaxially upon the rod 39 and disposed within a recess formed in the core portion 37 and acting between one end or" the recess and a head 42 formed upon the inner end of the rod 40.

A means is provided for holding the peripheral portion 38 in an extended position when desired to a predetermined amount. This means comprises an arm 43 fixed upon a tube 44 engaged over a stem 45 which connects the core portion 37 with the operating knob 30. The arm 43 is disposed in intimate contact with one side of the core portion 37 and the peripheral portion 38 is wider than the core portion so as to extend outwards over the edge thereof and so be engageable by the 43. The tubular member 44 extends i cm the 43 through the disc 26 and the front of the casing to the exterior. A finger 46 is attached upon the extended end of the tube 44 and engages within one or another of a pair of recesses 47 formed upon the periphery of the knob 2i. The arrange sent is that in one position 43 holds the peripheral icrtion 38 of the cam extended, while in the second position of the finger 46 with relation to the knob 30 the arm 43 is in an idle position as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5 so that the peripheral portion of cam may move and does move under the action of the spring 40 to its retracted position. The stop fingers 36 are arranged upon the ends of the peripheral portion 28 of the cam.

The operation of the device consists merely in adjusting the knob 30 so as to cause rotation of the cam or the 3"], 32 so as to move the finger 21 to adjusted positions in which the terninals 19 and 20 are separated to predetermined amounts so that the thermostat acts at a certain temperature as indicated by the pointer 28 operating over the scale In the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 an arrangement has been provided whereby the peripheral portion 88 of the cam may be adjusted so as to change the range of possible motion of the finger 28 and so increase the range which is possible to set the thermostatic device. In Figs. 4 and 5 the scale, not shown in the drawing, over which the pointer 28 acts must be graduated so as to properly indicate all temperatures at which the device may be set. The pointer 28 is shown mounted upon the tube 44 and the scale over which the pointer works must be graduated to take into consideration the position of the finger 46 in the grooves 47 or a table of conversion must be supplied in conjunction with the scale so as to interpret the true readings from the scale.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that fluid may enter, a temperature conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of aid tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature effects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip tha the terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts.

2. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plainstrip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for con nection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature efiects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, the front end of said tubular body being formed with a flange, and a casing being mounted upon said flange and covering said cam and finger and all parts to the rear.

3. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fiuid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal s 1p and a plain strp parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit to certain temperature effects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, the front end of said tubular body being formed with a flange, and a casing being mounted upon said flange and covering said cam and finger and all parts to the rear, an operating knob being disposed outsi e of said casing and mounted upon a stem extended into the casing and connected with said cam whereby the cam may be adjusted to control the spacing of said finger.

4. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to contol the circuit according to certain temperature effects upon the bi metal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said slain strip. and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, a plug being threadedly engaged into the rear end of said conductive tubu lar member, constituting theclosed end thereof.

5. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon water or the like pipe lines in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and suported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit control. the circuit according to certain temperature effects upon the bimetal said strip, a finger attached upon free end. of pl 1 strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a the casing and connected with said cam whereby the cam maybe adjusted to control the position. oi said finger, a cable casing being attached upon said casing to constitute housing for the passage I of leads to connect with said terminals.

6. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said heat conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature effects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attac ed upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, the front end of said tubular body bein formed with a flange, and a casing being mounted upon said flange and cove 'ing said and finger and all parts to the rear, an operating knob being disposed outside of said casing and mounted upon a extended into the casing and connected with said cam whereby the cam may be adjusted to control the position 01" said finger, a cable casing being attached upon said casing to constitute a housing for the passage of leads to connect with said terminals, a pointer being associated with said knob and acting over a scale to indicate temperature at which the thermostatic device is set to operate.

'7. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through reduced ends and extending towards the of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to cert in temperature effects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain stri and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, said cam comprising a core portion, a peripheral portion with a rod radially slidable in said core portion so that the peripheral portion may be adjusted, resilient means urging said peripheral portion inwards, and means for holding the peripheral portion extended when desired to a predetermined amount.

8. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end i or mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature eiiects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, said cam comprising a core portion, a peripheral portion with a rod radially slidable in said core portion so that the peripheral portion may be adjusted, resilient means urging said peripheral portion inwards, and means for holding the peripheral portion extended when desired to a predetermined amount, a stem being connected with said core portion and extending outwards and carrying knob whereby the core portion may be rotated.

9. A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closed rear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature eiiects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the free end of said plain strip, and a cam rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the said terminals are separated according to predetermined amounts, said cam comprising a core portion, a peripheral portion with a rod radially slidable in said core portion so that the peripheral portion may be adjusted, resilient means urging said peripheral portion inwards, and means for holding the peripheral portion extended when desired to a predetermined amount, a stem being connected with said core portion and extending outwards and carrying a knob whereby the core portion may be rotated, and a tube being mounted upon said stem and connected with an arm adapted to hold said peripheral portion extended and constituting the means for holding said portion extended.

10, A thermostat for an automatic dish washing and drying machine or the like, comprising a tubular body with a reduced front end and opened at the rear end for mounting upon a water or the like pipe line in a manner so that the fluid may enter, a conductive tubular member with a closedrear end and mounted at the front through said reduced end and extending towards the rear of said tubular body so as to be surrounded by said fluid, a bimetal strip and a plain strip parallel to each other and extending through said conductive tubular member and supported at the rear ends upon the closed rear end of said conductive tubular member, a contact mounted on an insulated terminal mounted on the free end of each of said strips for connection in an electric circuit to control the circuit according to certain temperature effects upon the bimetal strip, a finger attached upon the fr e end of said plain strip, and a earn rotatively supported in a manner so that its periphery acts against the finger to hold away the plain strip flexed so that the terminals are separated according to predetermin d amounts, said cam comprising a core portion, a peripheral portion with a rod radially slidabie in said core portion so that the peripheral portion may be adjusted, resilient means urging said peripheral.

portion inwards, and means for holding the pe ripheral portion extended when desired to a predetermined amount, a stem being connected with said core portion and extending outwards and carrying a knob whereby the core portion may be rotated, and a tube being mounted upon said stem and connected with an arm adapted to hold said peripheral portion extended and constituting the means for holding said portion extended, a finger being attached upon the outer end of said tube and. adjustable relative to said knob to control the moving of the peripheral portion from the retracted to the extended positions.

ROBERT BURKLE. 

